Anti-Smoking Advocates Say They Have The Votes To Pass Cigarette Tax Hike; Business Owners Respond

Read the list of candidates for the Maryland General Assembly who have signed a pledge to increase the cigarette tax by $1-per pack. Download This File

Dr. Brian Arin, immediate past president of MedChi speaks at a news conference on the tobacco tax. (WBAL's Robert Lang)

Dr. Brian Arin, immediate past president of MedChi was among those who spoke at a news conference today on raising the tobacco tax. Download This File

Keith Madsen, who owns two Hess stations, reacts to the possibility of higher cigarette taxes. Download This File

Anti-smoking advocates say 216 candidates for the House of Delegates and the Maryland Senate have signed a pledge to vote to increase the state's cigarette tax by $1 from $2 to $3-per pack.

Members of the Maryland Citizens' Health Initiative, along with MedChi and Maryland GASP (Group Against Smokers Pollution), asked the candidates for the legislature to sign the pledge. They believe the higher tax will generate money to restore cuts in anti-smoking programs that have amounted to $15-million over the last 15 years.

Vinny DeMarco, president of the Maryland's Citizens' Health Initiative, says with the pledges signed at least 27 senators would vote for a cigarette tax increase, three more than the minimum number of votes needed to pass a bill in the Senate, and at least 79 delegates would vote for the measure, eight more than the minimum number needed to pass a bill in the House.

DeMarco says that in the past, all of the leading Democratic candidates for governor support the idea of a higher cigarette tax.

Maryland's cigarette tax was last increased in 2007 from $1 to $2-per pack. That higher tax rate took effect at the beginning of 2008.

A number of business groups, including the Maryland Retailers Association and the Maryland Association of Candy and Tobacco Wholesalers have sent candidates a letter asking them to review any tax legislation carefully to examine its impact on businesses.

A number of business groups have said the higher cigarette tax would cost retailers customers, and note that smokers would by cigarettes over the Internet or from other states where taxes are lower.

Keith Madsen, who owns two Hess stations in Towson and Elkridge says that the higher taxes will hurt his business. not smokers will buy cartons of cigarettes in neighboring states, where the taxes are lower, or attempt to buy more untaxed cigarettes on the Internet.

"As you listen to all of the rhetoric of all of these campaigns of people who are running for office, or people who are running for higher office, they clai,m to be concerned about jobs and helping small business...their actions don't match their words," Madsen told WBAL News.

Madsen says cigarettes are the second biggest sellers at his stations.

Madsen notes that if the higher tax is improved, the tax con a carton of cigarettes would increase from $20 to $30, compared to $3 for Virginia, $5.50 for West Virginia, $16 for Delaware, $16 for Pennsylvania, and $25 in the District of Columbia.

Madsen notes those who travel out of state to buy cigarettes, buy multiple cartons, as well as gasoline which is taxed at a lower rate.

Madson says he understands the concerns of anti-smoking advocates to fund health programs, and he believes cigarettes should be taxed.

However, Madson says supporters of the tax hike ignore the economic impact on businesses.

Madsen believes that lawmakers need to increase funding to the comptroller's office to provide more enforcement officers to catch consumers bringing in cigarettes from other states.